2001 crime data show violent crime on the rise in Clarke, nation

Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

In 2000, Athens-Clarke County saw a drop in violent offenses, while at the same time some property crimes were on the rise. A year later those trends made an abrupt reversal, according to preliminary figures released by the FBI Monday.

The shift was particularly noticeable in the area's violent crime -- homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault -- which increased by almost 8 percent in 2001. The increase was driven, in part, by the dramatic rise in murders -- from five in 2000 to 10 in 2001. Last year also saw an 18 percent jump in aggravated assaults -- from 221 to 261.

Not all violent crimes followed this pattern, however. The incidence of forcible rape in Athens-Clarke County dropped by almost 30 percent last year from 37 to 26. There was also a negligible reduction in robberies between 2000 and 2001 -- 157 and 156, respectively .

In contrast, total property crimes -- burglary, theft and auto theft -- in Athens-Clarke County fell last year. Burglaries dropped by about 2 percent, with 1,069 cases in 2001 compared to 1,096 cases the previous year. Thefts were on the rise in 2000 with about 200 more cases than the year before. However, a year later, that number of larcenies was on its way down with 29 fewer thefts reported in 2001.

Motor vehicle theft was the only type of property crime to see an increase last year -- from 367 to 379.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is among the more than 17,000 city, county and state law enforcement agencies which voluntarily submit data each year for the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The figures released Monday are only preliminary; the finalized data will not be available until this fall.

While the jump in violent crime should be of concern to Clarke County residents and officials, it is worth noting that our statistics mirrored those across the country. For the first time in a decade major crimes rose in the United States, including increases of a 3.1 percent in murders and 5.9 percent in car thefts.

Property crimes were up 2.2 percent and violent crime up 0.3 percent last year. Some of the increases included robbery at 3.9 percent, burglary at 2.6 percent, thefts at 1.4 percent and rape at 0.2 percent.

Aggravated assault, an attack with a weapon that has the potential for serious or fatal injury to the victim, was the only category of crime to see a nationwide reduction last year when it dropped 1.4 percent.

According to news reports, criminologists have been warning for some time that a return to rising crime rates was possible, in part, because of surges in the numbers of teen-agers and released prisoners. The nation's economic problems may also have contributed to the jump in certain crimes. Emotional and financial stress caused by layoffs or unemployment can sometimes push individuals into criminal behavior, such as domestic violence or stealing.

Unfortunately, the FBI's crime data doesn't offer any clues for what caused these increases in crime or how they might be prevented. One thing is certain, though; it is more important than ever for law enforcement agencies to get the resources they need to protect lives and property. Decent salaries, regular training and up-to-date equipment can help level the playing field between those who commit crime and those who fight it. It is also important to educate the public on what it can do to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

In addition to our community's basic quality of life, the crime rate can affect everything from how well we can attract business investment in the area to the University of Georgia's ability to recruit students. While the slight improvement in property crime is a positive sign, we must do more to keep the increase in violent crime from becoming a trend.